Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-10-07
The Great Yacht Race.
New YORK, September 80, 1887

NEW YORK, September ~, 1887.
Eiitor Sentinel How can help think
ing of all my friends in old Montgomery
this morning, and wishing they had been
with me yesterday on the Olivete. My blood
is still on fire and my brain thrilled with
the excitement of the race when our Vol
unteer beat the Thistle by a fraction over 10
minutes and in the rhistle's best breeze.
For the benefit Of those who, like me, did
not know yacht from a cat-5oat, | will
describe as best and briefly as | can racing
yacht. IL is II long, narrow boat with one
very tall mast-the smaller the hull and the
larger the canvas the better the boat The
greatest point in dispute between the En-
glish and American yachts is the centre
board used by Americans. 1t is a board
lowered from the keel of the boat when
fighting against the wind and raised when
the wind is with her
The Olivete leaves Pier 3 at $50, A. NJ. /,
and steams slowly down the harbor, show
ing us through the thick gray mist the gay
est sight ahoat Every ship and sloop in
the harbor is out, covered with bunting and
passengers, from the great ocean steamers
To the impertnent little "Now Then" that
runs under our bows and before we can re-
verse engines or find tears for the unfortu-
nate crew she is almost out OF sight and
laughing at US through her brazen throat.
The music of a steam whistle is very inspir
iting at IA yacht race, but ordinarily you
would prefer 10 have your ears insured be-
fore you experienced it, The boats salute
and cheer each other, and bets and good
wishes are shouted from steamer to tug or
yacht; but we cheered the Electra, with Sec
rotary and Mrs. Whitney, Secretary Fair
child, etc, as though Americas cup were
already ours for 1887
The Oliyete took us alongside the Thistle
and Volunteer, 50 that we might see the TWO
boats. We had almost despaired Of the race
on account Of the calm, but the wind ia
| lreshening and bets are made as ~ whether
or no there is wind enough. All the This
tie is moving down the harbor-now turns
and back to and fro, once, twice, three
times-lid you ever SEQ such graceful
turn Surely she is well handled, and the
Volunteer will have 10 fight for the cup ii
she wants 1t. These two men behind me
are saying: "rhe New Workers are wrong
if had $500 more | would put it on the
Thistle now" One man calls ont: as there
breeze enough 2 and with true Yankee CON
iidence comes the answer; "Yes, enough
10 blow the down off the Thistle"
4 All is life The clouds are breaking away
The motion of our steamer, the breeze, the
bursts Of music on our boat or familiar
air that swells and grows fainter as neigh
Dor passes the cheers and shouts, the gail y
dressed ships, all thrilled with the same
thought, the great ITO be or not 10 be-"
BOoml Oh the shout that rose from 10,
900 throats In one triumphant roar. II Is
the first gun they are off at the second =
We hold our breath. There, the Thistle
sweeps off across the line a minute and o
half before the Volunteer. There is tire
mendous cheer-we don't want the Thistle
10 beat, but of course our boat can get ahead
and we do want close race. We wert
waiting, but NOW we steam on and keep as
near as possible. What does that mean r.,
Both yachts stop, and they have hardly
started--aasl they are becalmed, II they
don't start soon we will have no race aftel
all They have seven hours for the race
and IL was 1890 when they started. The
Volunteer sways, her canvas swells, she
moves, she is off, hurrah on aud on she
flies. Tho Thistle still is sitting there al
calmly as though it Is any day ! n the three
hundred and sixty.fiv except the 9th o
September, and her rival speeding away
from her Shells off now, and sweeps aitei
her adversary as though the two miles start
were nothing aud she would beat the Vol
unteer yet and prove that Great Britain ha(
whipped everything ON land and sea excep
the Americans, and "by George, sir, we vii
beat them yet" ahc Is alone now, for all
eyes arc on the Volunteer, and our steame
carries US along neck and neck with her fol
some time and We hep the others 70 cheel
with will as she passes the bouys off San
dy Hook and speeds OFF seven miles out to
sea TO the Sandy Hook Light Ship. Sht
sweeps around i at 3:43 Z. NJ, and Is away
like bird. We wait for the Thistle, ant
she rounds the stake In grand style, and thu
Volunteer could not have looked more beau
tiful but OF present the Volunteer Is onlJ
shadow against the sky. We move besid'
the skimmng Thistle for mile, then rusl
on in time 10 sec the Volunteer round thu
Sandy Hook buoys second time Then sh'